Carton folder



. Dec. 25, 1951 PAGENDARM 2,580,189

CARTON FOLDER Filed April '7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 I q I m 5 I'Lig. 2.

' INVENTOR. L Edward J pagendarm ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 E.-. J. PAGENDARM 2,580,189

CARTON FOLDER Filed April 7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Edward J Pagenaarm ATTORNEY Dec. 25, 1951 E. J. PAGENDARM 2,580,189

CARTON FOLDER Filed April 7, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Edward J Pagans/arm ATTORNEY Dec.- 25, 1951 I r- J...PAG ENDARM I CARTON FOLDER 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 7, 1947 Edward 1.

\NVENTOR Pagendarm BY ATTORNEY E. J. FAG EN DARM D e c. 25, I951 CARTON FOLDER 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 7 194'? w m nwr m w N N@ R EP 00 V. T m m m M. my 2 w E 5 .E. i 0 2 +m 6 J W f\ m f. 2

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 CARTON FOLDER" Edward- J. Pagendarm, San Mateo,,0alif., assignor to Bem-iss-Jason: Company, a corporation of California.

Application April '7, 194?, Serial No. 739,749

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the'making of cartons, boxes, trays or other structures formed from blanks of cardboard, paperboard and other foldable material. 7

The invention provides a method of forming boxes, cartons, or trays hereinafter collectively referred to briefly as boxes or folding boxes from flat blanks of foldable sheet material, the method, by reason of its peculiar characteristics, being particularlyadaptable to performance by automatic machinery.

This invention alsov provides an improved device for carrying out the novelmethod.

The invention is primarily concerned with the setting up of boxes fromblankshaving a bottom, side panels and end panels hingedly connected to the bottom, and having flaps hinged to certain of said panels, the flaps being insertable into cuts in other panels to lock the box together.

The invention is particularly adapted to, the making of boxes which are maintained in setup condition by a glueless interlock of cut edges formed on or in the box elements to. be interlocked, as will be describedhereinafter by way of a typical example; However, the invention is not limited to such boxes nor. to any .particular form of interlock employing cut edges, but may also advantageously be employed for the setting up of boxes employing other'forms of glueless interlocks.

In order that theinvention may be better understood, it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan of'the die and plunger with certain parts in section;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section along the line 3 -3'in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a typical box blank adapted to be handled in the illustrated folding die;

Figure 5 is a View showing an initial stage in the assembly of the blank ofFigure 4";

Figure 6 is a plan view of the completed box made from the. blankishownin Figure 4,;

Figure 7 is, a side view of the box shown in Figure 6,

Figure 8 is an. outside view of acorner portion of a folding box of modified. construction embodying; the invention, the box panels being shown in semi-assembled position prior to the performance of: a. final: stepsin locking the panels to ether; 7

Figure 9 is an. inside View, partly in section, of the corner portion shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an outside View of the corner portion shown in Figure, 8 after performance of a final stepin locking the panels together;-

Figure 11' is an inside view, partly in section, of the corner portion shown in Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a plan view of a die and plunger mechanism, somewhatv similar to that shown in Figure 3, the mechanism being particularly adapted. to assembly of a container embodying the construction shown in Figures 8 through 11;

Figure 13v is a section taken along the line l'3--l 3 ofFigure 12;

Figure 1-4 is a plan view of a. modified form of button cam utilized to efiect. an interlock of the modified form of corner shown in Figures 8 through 11;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary plan view of still another form ofcontainer blank having a, first and a second panel, the two being interlocked upon, insertion of portions of the first panel into suitable apertures provided in the second panel, the two panels being in a face-to-face engagement;

Figures 16 and 17 are side elevations of the interior of a container corner illustrating the assembly of the structure shown in Figure 15;

Figure 18 is an end view of a die and plunger tof modified type, certain portions being in sec- Figure 19 is a side view of the plunger shown in Figure 18;

Figure 20 is a plan view of the die and plunger of Figures 18 and 19, parts being in section;

Figure 21 is a plan view of the face of the plunger; and v Figure 22 is a fragmentary view of the die, partly in elevation and partly in section.-

Thev die structure shown in Figures 1-3 will be first described in detail and then its operation will be descri-bedon the blank shown in Figures 4-7. As appears particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the die structure includes a first side member ll-I- and a second side member Hi2 slidably mounted. in; a. suitable frame N3 of a box machine, the twolmembers providing a receivingstation fora cut and scored blank. The two die members are slidablydrawn towardeach other by spring H t, the distancebetween them being: regulated by stops I16.

In, Figures- 4 to 7.; inclusive, a form of blank l5l-v is shown which may be assembled by the plunger and die of the specific form shown in Figures 1', 2 and 3:1 The blank has a bottom I52 3 and end walls I53 from which wings I54 extend. The end walls are foldable about fold lines I58 while the wings are foldable about fold lines I51. Side walls I58 are also connected to the bottom and are foldable with respect to the bottom about fold lines I59. Each of the side walls I58 and wings I54 interlock by means of an arcuate internal cut IBI formed therein and extending generally transversely of the side wall to form a tongue I62 projecting toward the adjacent wing I54. The side walls may also be cut away or notches as at I83 adjacent each wing to facilitate alignment for assembly, though this is not essential. The wing is cut to provide an edge I54 in such a position that it can be engaged with at least a portion of arcuate internal cut IBI. Edge I64 and the portion of internal cut IGI which it engages are shown at 90 to one another and are spaced the same radial distance from the common corner about which they are hingedly mounted. Of course, the 90 relationship obtains only in a container wherein this is the final angular relationship between the end and the bottom and the wing and the bottom. If this final angular relationship is to be otherwise, for example, 130", then the angle between face I54 and the cooperating portion of the cut I6I should be modified accordingly.

The die structure shown in Figures 1-3 includes means for flexing each tongue I52 with respect to the panel in which it is formed to receive a wing in the opened cut and interengage edge I64 on the wing with an edge portion on cut IfiI. To this end, each die member is provided with four sloping curved surfaces or slides IBI, I82, I83 and I84 over which the blank is moved. Beyond slides I8! and I84, each die member is additionally arcuately formed at I86 and I81, the arcuate surfaces being continued by downwardly projecting members I88. On each of the members I88 spring members I89 are mounted, the latter extending inwardly to provide resilient folding surfaces in the die. The spring members 189 are supported by adjustable studs I9I projecting through and secured to each of members I88. The spring mounting of the die members and the use of spring fingers I89 protect the die against damage if accidentally several blanks are simultaneously forced through the die by the positively moved plunger.

Pins I11 are provided on the die member I12 for aligning blanks fed into the die with-respect to the plunger, the pins fitting into the cutaway portion I83 adjacent each wing. Each pin is adjustably carried on an arm I18 which can be locked, each pin projecting through an arcuate aperture I19 in die member I12.

The plunger 42 fits the previously described die structure to force a flat blank therethrough in such a manner that the blank is assembled to a desired extent. In the illustrated form of device, the end surface of the plunger corresponds in general outline to the bottom I52 of the blank II. In order to make this readily apparent, the blank of Figure 4 is indicated in dotted outline in Figure l in the position which it regularly assumes with respect to the die and the plunger. The sides of the plunger are relieved as at I92 except in the intermediate portions I93 which cooperate with the projecting slides I82 and I83 as will be presently described. Also, mounted upon the flared portions I93 on the plunger are buttons I94 for flexing the tongues and side walls with respect to one another.

The construction of the die and plunger of Figures 1-3 and the functioning of the various elements will become further apparent upon the following description of their operation; If a blank corresponding in outline to that shown in Figure 4 is fed into the device, the pin stops I11 engage notches I63 in the blank and accurately align the blank with respect to the end surface of the plunger. Upon advancement of the plunger toward the die, either by hand or by power, the blank is forced against the die and engages slides I8I, I82, I83 and I84 which fold the sides I58 of the blank upwardly about fold lines I59 until the side panels are substantially normal to the bottom I52 (Figure 5).

Continued movement of the plunger with respect to the die moves the end walls I53 and wings I54 over the arcuate surfaces I85 and I81 until end walls I 53 are raised and the wings project upwardly, as appears in Figure 5. By this time the blank has passed partially through the die and the side walls of the blank are retained between slides I82 and I83 on the die members and the flared portions I93 on th plunger. The relation of these surfaces is such that, together with the buttons I93, each tongue I52 is flexed with respect to its supporting panels so that the wings I53 can be threaded between the upstanding side walls I58 and the projecting tongue I62 upon further folding of the end walls I53. The buttons I94 provide projecting surfaces which, with the cooperatively placed slides I82 and I83, apply pressure on each side wall and flex the side wall and tongue relative to each other so that the one is displaced from the plane of the other. In the illustrated form of plunger and die the tongue is moved out of the plane of the side wall panel. However, the end of each side Wall panel can be flexed inwardly and the tongues held stationary so that the wing passes over the flexed end of the side Wall and passes through the arcuate cut and under the tongue.

When the end walls I53 are engaged by the spring fingers I89, the wings I54 are nearly parallel to the side walls I58 and move over the curved or arcuate surfaces I86 until they lie face to face with the upstanding side walls I58. During the continued movement of the plunger, the tongues permit the edge I64 to engage a portion of the cut IBI. When this occurs, the wings I54 and the side walls I58 lie face to face and are under the pressure applied by the two die mem- 'bers against the plunger. To relieve this pressure partially, relief surfaces I99 are provided on the lower portion of the slides IN and I84.

Continued movement of the plunger relative to the 'die moves the blank beyond the die members so that the blank is freed from the engaging surfaces of the die. In this condition, the edge I64 on each wing is in engagement with an edge provided by the arcuate cut I6I and is retained in this position by the tension exerted on the wing by the flexed tongue.

When the plunger is moved upwardly, the completed box structure is engaged by the ends of the slide members and is stripped off the plunger to fall upon a suitable movable conveyor.

If blanks are made of stock having relatively little resiliency, such as chipboard, it is sometimes desirable to provide a lock of the type shown in Figures 8 to 11 in which a tab or tip I60 forming the end of the cut edge I64 on the wing I54 extends beyond the confines of the cut I6I, I65 which forms the tongue I82. When the tip I60 forced from the initial position outside the side wall panel I58 as shown inFigures an 9 th-rough ithe c t 1 65 to trans ts of the side wall panel l 58 'asshown in Figures and 1 1,--the two panels 1-58 and 1'54 aresecurelylocke'd by engagement of edge I64 with edge l t-i, the

tip tartan l tilfthreaded or fbuttoned through the cut it? preventing disengagement of the 'interlocki-ng'edges. V 7 I W The forrnof blank showninFiguresBto 11 can bea'ss'er'n'bled by a die and plunger similar-to 't-h'e one shown in Figures 1 to 3. Referring to Fi'gures l2 "and 13, slides i8 2 and 183 are each provid'ed with extensions 42! and 122, *each of the extensions having button-like cams or projections 423 thereon. The movement of the blank past the cam-like buttons 423 suflices to place sun -cient-pressureupon the blank to move portions of tively deflects with its outer surface the tongue IE2 with respect to its supporting panel. The under surface of the'projection acts as a guiding surface over which the wing portion carrying the edge its moves into final position for locking. This construction may be used in assembling the form of blank shown in Figures 3 to ll.

The blank structure shown in Figure 15 is in some respects similar to that shown in Figures 8 to 11. The first panel i-t2 has a cut edge 43E thereon in such relation to the internal cut dbl in the second panel 453 that a portion'sw of the cut edge 43!, upon interengagernent of the cut edge 43! and cut edge 49?, is adapted to be forced past the cut 48!. In the completed interlock, the

portion 630 projects beyond-the cut @87, as shown in Figure 17. Figure 16 shows the panels-in a face-to-face engagement prior to the forcing of the tip portion are through the cut-4M. The

-force required for the operation can be applied by a button cam 423 or with a movable tongueshaped element or wing hook as hereinafter described.

Instead of looking a wing element provided upon an end wall toa side wall, the interlock can be provided between anend wall and wings which extend from a side wall. This involves a mere reversal in parts and an obvious change in the arrangement of the elements involved.

In Figures 18 to 22 a further modification of the plunger and die is indicated, the modification of the plunger being specifically directed toward the end of assembling a blank wherein the tongue has a positive lock, for instance, that shown in Fig ures 8to ll, and in Figures 15 to 1'7.

In this modified die and plunger construction, identical reference characters are used where the elements are identical with those previously disclosed. Thus the die comprises members- HI and I12 held togethertoward each other by springs I14 in a frame I13. They'are suitably spaced by stops I16.

be formed are support members 264. Corner slides or-projections 2e! are arcuately formed'at 203 and support *membersifi i are arcuately rented at -205. This structureso far-is only slightly modified froin that heretofore described.

Pivota11 y "hfc'iiiiitedbn suppert rne'mbrs -2Mf'a'r'e other slides the form o'f spri-ng pressed folding members 206 which perform the 'same'function as do elements 189, for example, in Figure 13. It will be noted that the foIHi-hg HelIlbEsZO'G like the members l'ttin' the'devioeshown in-Figure l3 cit-tend beyond'the' -width of the plung r to engage the folded edges of the wings Hit or id-2'01 the blanks-o that 'f orc'e'is exerted 'on the wings-directly, in the plane of the wings, to insert the wings into the corresponding cuts 6| or 431 of the blank. Adjustable locating pins 20! are mounted upon die members 17 2.

At each side of the Hie-flat blank guiding springs 268 are secured i-to frame "I13. Thu bscrews 209 are provided for mar-m adjustments in'the position of theg'uide springs.

The plunger 42 -consists of a "hollow box-like member having side wens 301 and end "walls $62, the bottomedges of which correspond-to the fiat face of plunger members heretofore described. The plunger is hollow to allow the introduction of means for exerting a positive force upon the wing members of the box blanks in order to-inte'rlock the wing member with the sides-of the box. To this end there are formed four integral plunger extensions 363 having at the outer'en'ds slots 354. In each pair of slots 39% there is mounted a bar 3%, making two bars for each plunger. Each bar 305 may be positioned where desired in the slot 394 by means of nut 386. Four levers Sill are mounted, two on each cross bar'and at each corner of the'plunge'r. Intermediate the ends of these levers arerollers 30s and at the'end opposite the pivotal mounting are wing hooks 3 i B. The relation among all these elements will bebetter understood by reference toFigure 18 wherein springs 3 l I are shown which'press the inner ends of levers 361 towards their outermost position, determirne'd by engagementwith the side wallsttl. In this position the wing hooks 310 project through openings 312 in the Walls.

It should now be apparent that for each corner of the blank box to be assembled, the reis a wing hook 3H1 protruding slightly from thesides of the plunger head 52. Each lever 307 is pi'vot'e'cl at its end and controlled by cooperation of the rollers 309 with the center slides 2&2 of the die, as shown, or with s'imilar'membe'rs, as may be desired.

The particular usefulness of the head'thus'disclosed is in connection with a box blank, such as that indicated in'Figure'8, wherein there is provided a positive locking of the Wing with the side wall of the box. To this end and as almost the last operation of the plunger, the levers 3B1 pull each of the four wings to theinside of the box when the rollers 369 strike the surfaces ESE, thereby moving the ends of the levers 30'! with their. hooks 3H3 towards the interior of the plunger. This timing is assured by proper mounting of the rollers 3i9withrelation to the surfaces 262.

The adjustable mounting of-the cross bars 365 in slots 3% isprovided for the control of the inward movement of wing hooks 3 l U,since too much movement might break off the wings, or at least weaken them unduly. The normal position of wing hooks 3H! is such as to cause outward flexing of the tongues'of the. bo'x'side walls. -As the end wallsare folded into their proper positionthe a will be" apparent that-mechanically eqiu'vheiit means may be substituted for those which I have utilized, within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for converting into box form out and scored box blanks of the type comprising a main panel, side panels, and end panels hingedly connected to the main panel, the device comprising oppositely disposed, spaced rigid side panel fold- .ing members mounted with freedom of movement towards, and away from, each other; means for biasing said folding members towards each other; pairs of oppositely disposed end panel folding members biased towards each other, said end panel folding members being mounted on, and

movable with, said side panel folding members 7 and defining a substantially rectangular die aperture therewith; and a reeiprocable plunger movable through said die aperture.

2. A device for converting into box form out and scored box blanks of the type comprising a main panel, side panels, and end panels hingedly connected to the main panel, the device compris ing a die consisting of oppositely disposed side panel folding members having freedom to move towards and away from each other and means for biasing said side panel folding members towards each other, and oppositely disposed end panel folding members aranged transversely with respect to the side panel folding members and defining a substantially rectangular die aperture with the side panel folding members through which aperture a reciprocable plunger is movable, characterized in that said end panel folding mem bers are mounted on, and movable with said side panel folding members, and that said end panel folding members are yieldable in a direction away from the path of the plunger.

3. A device for converting flatcut and scored box blanks into hollow box form comprising a reciprocable plunger, and a die through which said plunger is movable, said plunger including a projectable and retractable blank engaging element in its side, said die having a recess opposite said element to permit the plunger to pass through the die, with the blank engaging element in projected position, and means associated with said plunger and said die for moving said element in dependence on the position of the plunger relatively to the die as the plunger moves through the die.

4. A device for converting a cut and scored fiat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said panel on either side of the cut, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock fiap hingedly connected to said second panel, said fla having a cut edge thereon formed to engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock fiap being foldable into a position in which it lies face to face with said first panel, said device comprising a die and a plunger movable through said die, said plunger having a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die having members for engaging and folding said first and second panels about said plunger and for moving said lock fiap into fac'e-to-face position with respect to said first panel, said plunger having a projectable andretractable hook shaped element inits side for engaging with its outer surface said .first panel adjacent said out to open said out,

said element being so located as to, engage said .le fieewiili it ee rser e a d t n s lock flap-toward the inside of the box, and means for positively retracting said element in dependence on the movement of the plunger through the die.

5. A device for converting a cut and scored flat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said panel on either side of the cut, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said flap having a cut edge thereon formed to engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock fiap beingfoldable into a position in which it lies face to face with said first panel, said device comprising a die and a plunger movable through said die, said plunger having a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die having members for engaging and folding said first and second panels about said plunger and for moving said lock flap into faceto-face position with respect to said first panel, said plunger having a projectable and retractable element in its side, said element being substantially hook-shaped and adapted to engage with its outer surface said first panel adjacent said out to open said out and permit passage of a portion of the lock flap therethrough into a position underneath the inner surface of the projection to enable the lock fiap portion to be pulled to the inside of the box upon retraction of the element, and means for moving said element towards its retracted position in dependence on the relative position of the plunger relatively to the die, the die having a recessed portion opposite said hook-shaped element to permit the plunger to enter the die with the said element in projected position.

6. A device for converting a cut and scored flat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said panel on either side of the cut, a second box panel connected to the main panel along the second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said fiap having a cut edge thereon formed to engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock flap being foldable into a position vin which it lies face to face with said first panel, said device comprising a die and a plunger movable through said die, said plunger having a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die having members for engaging and folding said first and second panels about said plunger and for moving said lock flap into face-to-face position with respect to said first panel, said plunger having a projectable and retractable element in its side, said element being substantially hook-shaped and adapted to engage with its outer surface said first panel adjacent said out to open said out and permit passage of a portion of thelock flap therethrough into a position underneath the inner surface of the projection to enable the lock flap portion to be pulled to the inside of the box upon re traction of the element, a spring for biasing said element towards its projected position, and a lever defiectable by passage of the plunger through said die for retracting said element, h I

7. A device for converting a cut and scored flat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said panel on either side of the cut, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said flap having a cut edge thereon formed to engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock flap being foldable into a position in which it lies face to face with said first panel, said device comprising a die member and a plunger member movable through sad die member, said plunger member having a base surface for engaging said main panel, said die member having folding elements for folding said first and second panels about said plunger when the plunger member forces the blank past said folding elements, one of said members having a projectable and retractable element movable towards and away from said other member, said other member having a recess to permit movement of said projectable element in projected position past said other member, said projectable element being so located as to engage a blank portion and flex it into said recess, and means for projecting and retracting said element in dependence on the relative position of said plunger member relatively to the die member in its passage through said die member.

8. A device for converting a cut and scored flat box blank into hollow box form, said blank having a main panel, a first box panel connected to the main panel along a first score line, said first panel having a cut therein adapted to be opened upon flexing of said panel on either side of the cut, a second box panel connected to the main panel along a second score line extending at an angle to said first score line, a lock flap hingedly connected to said second panel, said flap having a cut edge thereon formed to engage at least a portion of said out in edge-to-edge engagement, said lock flap being foldable into a position in which it lies face to face with said first panel, said device comprising a die member and a plunger member movable through said die member, said plunger member having a base surface jectable and retractable element movable towards and away from said other member, said other member having a recess to permit movement of said projectable element in projected position past said other member, said projectable element being substantially hook-shaped and adapted to flex with'its outside surface a blank portion into said recess in projected position, and to engage with its inside surface still another blank portion to flex said other blank portion in the opposite direction by retracting movement of said element, and means for projecting and retracting said element in dependence on the relative position of said plunger member relatively to the die member in its passage through said die member.

9. A device for converting fiat cut and scored box blanks into hollow box form comprising a reciprocable plunger; and a die through which said plunger is movable, said plunger including a projectable and retractable blank engaging element in its side, said die having a recessed portion opposite said element into which a blank portion may be flexed by said element in pro- J'ected position as the plunger passes through the die, said recessed portion extending longitudinally with respect to the path of the plunger to provide clearance for passage of said element through said die in projected position; means biasing said element towards its projected position; and means operable by the passage of the plunger through the die for retracting said element after said plunger and said element have entered said die.

EDWARD J. PAGENDARM.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,365,920 Joslin Jan. 18, 1921 1,563,184 Goss Nov. 24, 1925 1,589,078 Inman June 15, 1926 1,680,615 Hoba Aug. 14, 1928 1,808,014 Bergstein June 2, 1931 1,906,283 Schultz May 2, 1933 2,132,859 Mednick Oct. 11, 1938 2,189,105 Evans Feb. 6, 1940 2,198,855 Bergstein Apr. 30, 1940 2,200,238 Bergstein May 7, 1940 2,416,748 Gnoerk Mar. 4, 1947 

